Lanyard



S. M. SERON Aug. 2, 1960 LANYARD Filed Jan. 23, 1958 of the wearer.

nited Stteis LANYARD Suren M. Seron, Seron Mfg. Company, 432 BarberBldg., Joliet, Ill.

Filed Jan. 23, 1958, Ser. No. 710,822

1 Claim. (Cl. 224) such disadvantage is that the keeper element is ofsuch size and material, in some lanyards, that it may cause in jury tothe person if said element should he accidentally hit during play.Another disadvantage of the known braided and cord types is possibleirritation to the neck Still another disadvantage is that the ma terialof which the lanyard is formed is often difficult to clean. Often thelanyard is insufficiently strong to withstand the wear and tear thereonover a period of time. Another disadvantage is that the means forconnecting the whistle or horn to the lanyard does not allow readyinstallation and removal thereof.

Applicant has devised and herein disclosed and claims a new and improvedneckpiece lanyard of extremely simple and economical construction, whichavoids each of the above enumerated disadvantages.

The principal feature of the invention is the provision of a lanyardhaving new and improved means for ready, positive adjustment of thelanyard loop around the users neck.

Another feature is the provision of such a lanyard hav ing a new andimproved means for attaching an element such as a whistle or a hornthereto in proper position for grasping and ready movement to the usersmouth.

A further feature of the invention is that the lanyard comprises aresilient tube closed at its ends to enclose a body of air therewithin.

Still another feature is the provision of a new and improved keepermember of simple and economical construction for operative associationwith the tube for positively adjusting the looped portion of the tubearound the users neck and which is small in size so that no injury canbe sustained by the user in the event of an accidental blow on thechest.

Another feature is that the keeper ning maintains the tube portions inalignment to position properly at all times the element attaching means.

A yet further feature is the provision of a lanyard comprising a loop oftubular neoprene providing improved characteristics as comfort to awearer, resistance to deterioration, ease of maintenance, and limitedstretchability.

Other features and advantages of this invention will be apparent fromthe following description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

Figure 1 isa perspective view of a lanyard embodying the invention, witha whistle attached thereto, and with a portion of the torso of a personwearing the lanyard being shown in phantom view;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the lanyard;

Figure 3 is an exploded front elevational view thereof,

)1 atent with the whistle retaining means being shown in the attachedposition in dotted lines;

Figure 4 is an enlarged section taken approximately along the line 4--4of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a. section taken approximately along the line 55 of Figure3;

Figure 6 is a section taken approximately along the line 6-6 of Figure3; and

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 4, but showing a modified form ofkeeper.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention as disclosed in Figures 1through 6 of the drawings, a. lanyard is shown to com-prise a loopedtube 10 provided with a keeper 11 for adjusting the length of theportion of tube 10 arranged around the neck N of the wearer. A fastener12 is secured to the lower end of the tube 1i? and is arranged toreceive removably a connecting or hook member 13 which is adapted tocarry an element such as whistle 14 in position for instant grasping andplacement into the users mouth.

Loop element 10 preferably comprises a tube formed of a resilientmaterial such as rubber. Such a material is easy to clean by simplewashing and the outer surface of the tubing may be relatively smooth toinhibit deposi' tion of dirt thereon. The tube may be cut from astraight section thereof and the two free ends 16a and 1% broughttogether and secured by fastening means 12 to form a complete loop.

A highly satisfactory loop element 10 is one formed of soft neoprenetubing such as neutral color neoprene tuhing having a /8 internaldiameter and a 3 wall thickness. Such a tubing having a hardness ofapproximately 45 durometer Shore A composed of Du Pont de Nemours Co.type W general purpose neoprene having approximately a 47 Mooneyviscosity characteristic provides excellent characteristics. The loopelement formed of such neoprene tubing is light-weight and comfortableto the wearer. It does not chafe or cause skin burn as do the braidedlanyards and other rough surface lanyards now known. The neoprenelanyard is substantially impervious to body oils and perspiration whichdeteriorates the known cotton and leather lanyards. Thus, rotting,mildewing, and odor breeding are effectively eliminated. The neoprenelanyard can be readily sanitarily maintained such as by washing orsterilizing, including sterilizing with alcohol. It can withstand hightemperatures without adverse effects. Further, the limitedstretchability of the neoprene lanyard prevents excessive displacementof the instrument supported thereby such as might otherwise occur due toan accidental overenergetic pull thereon in the heat of athleticactivity.

Fastener 12 may comprise a conventional snap fastener including a baseportion 12a and a clamp portion 1211 which may be forced into securedengagement with base 12a, with tube ends ltia and 10b therebetween,thereby to close sealingly the ends of the tube. The air within the tubeis thus entrapped, causing the tube to form a yielding, yet firm supportmember.

As best seen in Figures 3 and 4, keeper 11 comprises a doubled loop orfigure-eight member formed of a relatively rigid material such as wire.The internal diameter of each of the loops of keeper 11 is preferablyjust slightly smaller than the outside diameter of tube 10 so that thetube is slightly constricted where it passes through the keeper. Becauseof the yielding nature of the airbuifered tube construction, thisconstriction effects a secure, yet readily adjustable, retention of thekeeper longitudinally on the tube notwithstanding the smooth-surfacedcharacteristic thereof. Once the keeper is adjusted, therefore, itmaintains its position notwithstanding forceful movements of the wearer,until it is readjusted by actual manipulation by the wearer.

loop portion 100.

As best seen in Figures 1 and 3, keeper 11 further serves to maintainthe loop sections aligned substantially coplanarly and against theperson of the wearer so that fastener 12 is maintained in a dispositionwherein hook member 13 extends outwardly or away from the wearersperson. Ring 14a, normally provided on instruments such as whistles andhorns, may thus coact with the hook to cause the whistle or horn to lieordinarily flat against the wearers person, and to be readily swung onthe hook for proper disposition for insertion into the users mouth withthe top portion of the instrument uppermost. Thus, there is no fumblingor delay in utilizing the instrument as it is positioned ready forproper use at all times. The desirability of such positioning is obviousin such uses as by sports oflicials in the heat of an athletic contest.

A modified form of keeper 111 is shown in Figure 7. Keeper 111 comprisesa single loop ring of small diameter, rigid wire encircling two adjacentportions of the tube. The internal dimensions of keeper 111 arepreferably just slightly smaller than the outside dimensions of the pairof tube portions encircled thereby so that the tube portions areslightly constricted thereby. Thus, keeper 111 functions somewhatsimilarly to keeper 11 in that it is securely yet readily adjustablyretained in place on the tube portions notwithstanding the smoothcharacteristic of the tube surface. Such improved functioning is highlydesirable where the tubing is formed of a material such as neoprenewhich has a relatively low surface friction.

Fastener 12 is further arranged to permit a swivelling of the hookrelative to the tube ends. To this end, projecting outwardly from base12a of fastener 12 is a post portion 120 which is arranged for readilyremovable, rotatable retention of a generally annular, snap element 12d.A radially outward opening groove 122 extends peripherally aroundelement 12d to receive an arcuate end portion 13a of hook 13. Extendingfrom arcuate portion 13a is a straight portion 13b terminating at itslower end in a hook shaped retaining portion 130. The retaining portionis generally U-shaped and terminates in an end portion 13d extendingtransversely across the upper, open end of the U-shaped configuration.The end 13e of the end portion 13d is rounded and is disposed relativelyclose to the straight portion 13b. The distance between curved end 136and straight portion 13b is preferably just slightly smaller than thecross-sectional diameter of the ring 14a. Hook member 13 is preferablyformed of a resilient material such as wire and, thus, ring 140! may bepassed readily between the portions 131) and 13e of the hook by thespringing apart of the two portions, with the ring then hanging on thebase 131 of the U-shaped configuration as best seen in Figure 1. To urgethe whistle ring toward the lower end of straight portion 13b, when itis so hanging from the hook, base portion 13 is provided with a curvedportion 13 immediately adjacent the lower end of straight portion 13dand an angularly upwardly extending straight portion 13f". Thus, the topportion of the whistle is automatically retained flat against thewearers person so that when the whistle is swung upwardly into blowingposition, it is properly arranged top uppermost.

The installation of my lanyard is extremely simple, the looped tubebeing placed over the head of the user with the keeper 11 adjusted toallow a large size upper When thus arranged around the neck of the user,loop portion 100 is then decreased in size by moving the keeper upwardlyuntil the proper adjustment .is obtained. The keeper maintains thelanyard-flat against the wearers person and the whistle is maintainedreadily available for use. The double swivelling action of the whistlering relative to the hook, and the hook relative to the fastener post,assures this proper positioning and allows for simple swinging of theWhistle into proper blowing position. a

If it is desired to remove the whistle from the hook Q at any time, thiscan be readily done by moving the ring upwardly through the spacebetween portions 13b and 13d, the resilient nature of the hook allowingfor this.

Should it for any reason be desirable to replace hook 13, this can. bedone through the simple unsnapping of annular element 12d from thefastener post and replacement thereof with a new hook and annularelement. Applicants invention comprehends the use of any one of aplurality of hooks each having a different configuration, as well as onehaving the specific'novel configura tion disclosed.

Applicants lanyard is of a simple and economical construction. Itprovides improved facility in use both as to adjustment about the usersneck and as to use of the element attached thereto. It further providespositive loop-size adjustability and is easily maintained. In addition,it provides numerous other advantages over the known lanyard devices, asdiscussed in the foregoing.

While I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, itis to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes,therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in theappended claim.

I claim:

A neckpiece lanyard comprising: a length of neoprene tubing with sealed,joined ends formed into a large loop element, the tubing enclosing atrapped body of fluid; a keeper slidably engaging opposed portions ofthe looped tubing to juxtapose said portions and formthe large loop intotwo smaller loops, adjustable in size, the tubing of one of the smallloops being generally in a single plane to lie flat against the chest ofa wearer, the keeper encircling the loop portions and having an internaldiameter slightly smaller than the dimensions of the element whereby theelement is received in the keeper under slight restriction and thekeeper is retained longitudinally of the element to maintain a desiredadjustment of the relative sizes of the loops; and fastening meanscomprising a post member secured to said one small loop and lying insaid plane and extending generally at right angles to the longerdimension of said small loop, an element detachably connected with saidpost and a hook member carried by said element for swivel movement aboutsaid post member in a plane at right angles to the plane of said onesmall loop, said hook member having a generally -U-sl1aped portion lyingin the plane of swivel movement and opening upwardly and outwardly toform an instrument support for carrying an instrument generally in theplane of said one small loop.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS268,407 Hughes Dec. 5, 1882 278,469 Thompson May 29, 1883 330,319 GurneyNov. 10, 1885 431,042 Ford July 1, 1890 762,722 Humphreys June 14, 19041,511,002 Pfautz Oct. 7, 1924 1,637,315 Mittel July 26, 1927 1,863,638Richter June 21, 1932 1,879,991 Pratt Sept. 27, 1932 2,019,691 MorehouseNov. 5, 1935 2,356,209 Brilhart Aug. 22, 1944 2,519,231 Crawford et al.Aug. 15, 1950 2,572,889 Strykower Oct. 30, 1951 2,598,334 Ahlburg May27, 1952 2,648,110 B-askind Aug. 11, 1953 2,771,768 Tudor Nov. 27, 19562,819,650 Seron June 14, 1958 2,822,192 Beatty Feb. 4, 1958 g" FOREIGNPATENTS 103,277 Switzerland Feb. 1, 1924

